The gluteal tuberosity is a surface on the femur bone in the leg that serves as the attachment point for the gluteus maximus muscle. Found on the bone’s rear surface, the gluteal tuberosity forms the outside edge of the linea aspera, a raised bony ridge that runs vertically down the center of the femur’s posterior shaft. Along this border, the lowermost fibers of the gluteus maximus attach, thereby pulling the leg backward when the muscle contracts.

As the large, familiar muscle of the posterior hip, the gluteus maximus is the primary muscle of hip extension, or raising the leg posteriorly. It also performs the action of external rotation, turning the leg outward in the hip joint. This muscle originates in the central posterior pelvis on the sacrum or coccyx, the two lowermost bones of the spine, as well as the upper posterior ilium bone of the pelvis, with fibers flaring outward and downward. Most of these fibers cross behind the hip joint and insert into the iliotibial (IT) band, a length of fibrous tissue that runs the length of the outer thigh and provides an attachment point for many muscles of the thigh.

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The deepest fibers of the gluteus maximus, however, affix to the gluteal tuberosity. These fibers belong to the lower portion of the muscle. They run parallel to those of the rest of the muscle, but instead of merging with the fibers of the IT band, they connect to the femur bone. Where the posterior shaft is slightly raised along the linea aspera, a ridge is present along either vertical border. The lateral ridge and the surface area of the side of the linea aspera form the insertion point for the gluteus maximus: the gluteal tuberosity.

When the gluteus maximus contracts, its fibers shorten and produce an upward and inward pull on the femur. Those fibers that contribute to the IT band extend toward the outer thigh, so they rotate the leg outward as they pull inward across the back of the thigh. The deeper fibers that attach to the gluteal tuberosity extend farther downward. These pull upward on the posterior thigh when the muscle contracts so that the leg is simultaneously extended behind the body. They are particularly active during explosive pushing-off movements, such as jumping upward out of a squat position, exploding off the line during a sprint race, or bounding up a flight of stairs, but they are also used during hip extension exercises like deadlifts.

Discuss this Article

The gluteal tuberosity of the femur seems to be involved with a lot of the harder types of exercise. I have done both deadlifts and squats before, and I am only able to do a few without giving out.

With deadlifts, I can really feel the entire area straining. My butt, hips, and thighs are all working to support the weight, which feels so much heavier than it should.

Squats can really help you develop muscles in your upper thighs and butt, but do too many of them, and you will get cramps in the rear. They really are a powerful exercise, and when done properly, they can yield results rather quickly.

As with most things, the harder something is to do, the more you will gain from it. I have found this to be true with intense exercises, so I intend to continue working on improving my tolerance for them.

cloudelPost 1

Using the muscles around the gluteal tuberosity can make you very sore if you are not used to it. Sure, we all use them to some degree every day, but I'm talking about new exercise.

I took a trip with my friend to a state park. I knew there were plenty of hills there, but I didn't realize that our entire hike would be uphill! My butt and thighs weren't ready for that much action.

About halfway through the hike, my muscles became fatigued. My legs started to shake, and I lost control of them.

Just remember to always start out slow when exerting these muscles for the first time. I had to call someone to drive up and get me, while my fit friend continued on with the hike. I wasn't able to walk correctly for three days!

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